Pranab Mukherjee sworn in as Indian President

Pranab Mukherjee was sworn in as India’s 13th President on Wednesday at a ceremony in the packed Central Hall of Parliament.

Chief Justice of India S H Kapadia administered the oath of office to Mukherjee in the presence of Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union Ministers, Governors and a host of dignitaries.

Mukherjee took the oath of office in the name of God in English to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law”. Mukherjee was then given a 21-gun salute after which he signed the oath register amid a thunderous applause and thumping of desks.

Mukherjee earlier paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and other great leaders of the nation at their memorials in New Delhi before heading to take oath as the 13th President of India.

Travelling in a Mercedes Benz S 600, Mukherjee first visited Rajghat to pay homage to the Father of the Nation.

After paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi, he paid respect to Rajiv Gandhi at Veer Bhumi. Mukherjee also paid homage to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at her memorial Shakti Sthal. Later, he went to the memorial of Lal Bahadur Shastri.

He was accompanied by Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath.

- Asian Tribune –